Based on the works and characters of George Lucas, The Rise of Skywalker (Star Wars Episode IX) is the final film series of the Skywalker saga as it follows the conclusion of the conflict between the Resistance and the First Order with ties to their respective allegiances in the Jedi and the Sith. Directed by J.J. Abrams with a screenplay by Abrams and Chris Terrio from a story by Abrams, Terrio, Derek Connolly, and Colin Trevorrow, the film follows the Resistance rebuilding itself to go into a final stand with the First Order while Rey deals with Kylo Ren for the final time. Starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Naomi Ackie, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard E. Grant, Lupita Nyong’o, Keri Russell, Joonas Suotamo, Anthony Daniels, Kelly Marie Tran, Billy Dee Williams, Ian McDiarmid, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher in her final film appearance as Leia Organa. The Rise of Skywalker is an exhilarating yet clunky film from J.J. Abrams.
The film follows events after the previous encounter as the remaining forces of the Resistance learn about the dark secret that Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) is alive as Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) finds Palpatine learning what he’s created prompting Rey (Daisy Ridley), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Finn (John Boyega), and Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) to find out where Palpatine is and why he’s alive. That the film’s main plot as it focuses on Rey making a discovery about her own identity but also what Ren discovered as it relates to Palpatine. The film’s screenplay by J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio is largely straightforward in its narrative but considering the risks that the previous story had done with its narrative. It feels more of a step backwards by going back to something that calls back to other narratives of previous films as well as rely on exposition at times that does hinder the narrative.
The revelation about Palpatine and how he survived the events that led to his supposed death reveal a secret cult that relates to the Sith and the Empire along with other revelations about the First Order’s leader Snoke (Andy Serkis). Ren at first wants to destroy Palpatine but realizes that Palpatine is too powerful and influential to destroy as one of the film’s main plot points involves finding an object that reveals the location of where Palpatine is and his big secret as it’s part of the narrative that involves Rey, Finn, Poe, Chewbacca, and the droids in BB-8 and C-3P0 (Anthony Daniels) as they also go in the search for another mysterious object that Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) had been trying to find many years ago. It is in that narrative where Rey makes some discovers about herself while still finds herself connected with Ren who had discovered her true identity. Though the narrative does manage to flesh out some of the characters but at the disservice of others in favor of playing into a formula of emphasizing on action scene to another action scene with little time for characterization.
J.J. Abrams’ direction is sprawling in terms of its set pieces, action scenes, and in the many different locations the film is set with much of the film shot at Pinewood Studios in London and some of the desert locations in Jordan. Abrams’ direction does use a lot of wide and medium shots to get a scope of these locations that include a celebration on a planet that happens every 42 years while establishing the rule of the First Order as they venture into many planets of the galaxy to find Rey, Finn, and Poe who have become major targets for the First Order prompting Ren to send the Knights of Ren to find them. Abrams does at least establish what is going on while many of the action sequences and lightsaber battles are thrilling. Those scenes are fun to watch including the film’s climax between the Resistance and the First Order in a massive final battle scene that does have a lot of callbacks to the films of the past including a few notable characters from those past films.
There are some intimate moments that have elements of humor and drama in some of the scenes that Abrams creates with the usage of close-ups and medium shots yet it is hampered by the film’s script and narrative where it never does enough to get the characters to figure out what to do next. Though there are scenes that do play into revelations about Poe’s own background as well as Finn meeting a woman in Jannah (Naomi Ackie) who shares a similar background that Finn had endured. Abrams unfortunately underwhelms when it comes to the scenes involving Palpatine in its third act as there are also a few moments in the third act that are cheesy. Still, Abrams does succeed in creating a fitting conclusion to the series as it is about a young woman understanding who she is but show she chooses to be in the end. Overall, Abrams crafts a thrilling although derivative film about a conflict that reaches its breaking point.
Cinematographer Dan Mindel does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography with its usage of dark-bluish light for some of the scenes on the planet of Exegol along with scenes on a planet where Poe meets an old friend along with some colorful lighting for some of the daytime exterior scenes including some gorgeous work in the film’s ending. Editors Maryann Brandon and Stefan Grube do nice work with the editing as it is does play into the thrill of the action and the rhythm of the lightsaber battles along with some straightforward cuts for some of the non-action scenes. Production designers Rick Carter and Kevin Jenkins, along with set decorator Rosemary Brandenburg and supervising art director Paul Inglis, do amazing work with the look of the planet that Palpatine lives in as well as the design of a few ships and the home base of the Resistance. Costume designer Michael Kaplan does fantastic work with costume designs in the look of Poe’s old ally Zorri Bliss (Keri Russell) as well as the ragged look of the Resistance.
Creature designer Neal Scanlan does excellent work with the look of some of the creatures Rey, Poe, and Finn encounter including a tiny hacker named Babu Frik (voice of Shirley Henderson) who would decode something relating to ancient Sith translation. Special effects supervisor Dominic Tuohy and visual effects supervisor Roger Guyett do incredible work with the special effects in the usage of practical effects along with computer-based effects for some scenes including a flashback scene of Luke training Leia as it play into a major plot-point for Rey in the film’s third act. Sound editors David Acord and Matthew Wood do superb work with the sound in creating many sound effects and textures into the sound including a collage of voices during Rey’s confrontation with Palpatine. The film’s music by John Williams is phenomenal for its orchestral-based score that feature some familiar themes relating to his work from the past but also some thrilling pieces in the string arrangements and bombastic moments that play into the sense of adventure and drama.
The casting by Nina Gold, April Webster, and Alyssa Weisberg is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Jamie Comer and Billy Howle as a couple protecting a young Rey, Mike Quinn and Kipsang Rotich in their respective work as performer and voice of Nien Nunb, music composer John Williams as a bartender, Dominic Monaghan as a Resistance trooper, Greg Grunberg as Resistance pilot Snap Wexley, Shirley Henderson as the voice of hacker Babu Frik, and Billie Lourd as Lt. Connix. The performances of Hassan Taj and Lee Towersey as R2-D2 and the duo of Dave Chapman and Brian Herring as BB-8 are terrific in providing the puppeteer work of the droids with J.J. Abrams as the voice of a droid BB-8 befriends in D-O. Kelly Marie Tran is good as Resistance mechanic/fighter Rose Tico though she doesn’t really much to do while Naomi Ackie is superb as Jannah as a Resistance ally who is part of a group of people that shared similar experiences that Finn went through as a Stormtrooper.
Joonas Suotomo, Anthony Daniels. and Billy Dee Williams are fantastic in their respective roles as Chewbacca, the droid C-3P0 and Lando Calrissian as two war veterans with Chewbacca helping Rey, Poe, and Finn in their mission with C-3P0 joining along as he also provides key information that would help them find their destination while Calrissian appears to give them advice as well as some inspirational words before he rejoins the fight. Richard E. Grant is brilliant as General Pryde as a First Order leader who was also part of the Empire while Domnhall Gleeson is alright as General Hux as a First Order leader who tries to find ways not to get into Ren’s bad side. Keri Russell and Lupita Nyong’o are amazing in their respective roles as an old friend of Poe in Zorri Bliss and the space pirate Maz Kanata with former having some issues with Poe over things from the past while the latter is aware of what is going on as she tries to reach out to other allies. Ian McDiarmid is remarkable as Palpatine as he doesn’t appear much in the film except in the opening sequence and in the third act as the former Sith lord and leader of the Empire who is trying to manipulate and mastermind everything around him while carrying a major secret of his own.
Oscar Isaac and John Boyega are marvelous in their respective roles as Poe Dameron and Finn with the former as a Resistance pilot who becomes concerned with what to do and how to be a leader while the latter becomes more confident in his role yet expresses his own concern for Rey who admits to feeling troubled by her own visions. Mark Hamill is incredible in his brief appearance as Luke Skywalker as the former Jedi master who appears in one key scene to give Rey guidance as well as admit to his own failures. Through a series of archival appearances from previous films, Carrie Fisher is phenomenal as Leia Organa as the Resistance leader who helps Rey in her Jedi training but also is aware of what is happening where she makes a major decision to reach out to Kylo. Daisy Ridley is sensational as Rey as a young scavenger turned Jedi who becomes troubled by her visions and her past leading questions about her true identity as she becomes conflicted and lost. Finally, there’s Adam Driver in a tremendous performance as Kylo Ren as the First Order’s leader who finds Palpatine hoping to end him only to align with him as he struggles with his own issues concerning Rey and her true identity along with the need to prove to himself to the dark side of the Force.
The Rise of Skywalker is a superb though flawed film from J.J. Abrams. Despite its shortcomings in its script and emphasis to play it safe rather than take risks, the film still manages to be exciting and adventurous. Notably as it features great performances from its ensemble cast as well as dazzling visuals. In the end, The Rise of Skywalker is a stellar film from J.J. Abrams.
Star Wars Films: Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back - Return of the Jedi - The Phantom Menace - Attack of the Clones - Revenge of the Sith - The Force Awakens - The Last Jedi
Anthology Series: Rogue One - Solo
Related: The Star Wars Holiday Special - Caravan of Courage - The Battle for Endor - The Clone Wars - Fanboys - The People vs. George Lucas
George Lucas Films: THX 1138 – (American Graffiti)
© thevoid99 2019
Directed by Dave McCary and screenplay by Kyle Mooney and Kevin Costello from a story by Mooney, Brigsby Bear is the story of a man who lived in an underground bunker learns that his favorite TV show was created by the man who captured him prompting him to see the outside world and finish the show’s narrative. It’s a film that plays into a man who embarks into the real world after being held captive for so many years as his ideas of reality and fantasy become confusing. Starring Kyle Mooney, Claire Danes, Greg Kinnear, Matt Walsh, Jane Adams, Michaela Watkins, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Ryan Simpkins, and Mark Hamill. Brigsby Bear is a whimsical and heartfelt film from Dave McCary.
A young man who obsessively watches a TV show while living in an underground bunker learns he had been abducted by a couple where he returns to his real family and eventually decides to finish the show that his fake father created into a film. It’s a film that has a man dealing with reality and what happened to him while realizing that a new tape of his show isn’t coming forcing him to make a project relating to that show. The film’s screenplay by Kyle Mooney and Kevin Costello focuses mainly on the character of James Pope (Kyle Mooney) who lives in an underground bunker as he obsesses over this educational TV show about a bear who saves the universe as well as teach children ideas and math problems of the world. For James, it’s the only contact to the outside world that he has while he also created an online fan forum about the show unaware that no one knows about the show’s existence.
Upon his return to the real world and reunited with his real parents as well as learning he has a younger sister in Aubrey (Ryan Simpkins), James struggles with his new reality until Aubrey reluctantly takes him to a party where he manages to win a few people over through his discussion of his favorite show that it interests a few people. Even one of the detectives of his case in Detective Vogel (Greg Kinnear) takes interest in what James is doing as he wanted to fulfill a lifelong dream of acting as he used to act in plays before becoming a detective. With Aubrey eventually joining in, James finds a fulfillment in creating this film version of his favorite TV show with the props of the show that Detective Vogel retrieved from the station. Yet, James’ project makes his parents uneasy thinking he wouldn’t adapt to society following a stunt he pulled during filming where he took the blame for everyone. It would play into James’ need to focus on this project rather than adapt to a world he doesn’t know much about.
Dave McCary’s direction is full of imagination and whimsy which play into this clash of reality and James’ need to create a reality that is based on the fantasy of the TV show that he loved. Shot on location in Utah, the film does play into a world where it starts off as this strange and offbeat sci-fi film where this family is living underground as if the world had been destroyed by a nuclear holocaust until the police arrive to arrest James’ captors. There are some wide shots of the locations in McCary’s direction yet he’s more focused on the interaction between characters and James’ enthusiasm for this TV show that he loved. Notably in the creation of James’ film where there is that element of amateurish, homemade filmmaking that is full of creativity thanks in part to a friend of Aubrey in Spencer (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.) who would create visual effects and be James’ closest collaborator in all aspects of the film.
There are dramatic elements in the film as it relates to James’ parents desire to connect and bond with him as they bring in their family therapist Emily (Claire Danes) who suggest some things that she believes would help James. Still, McCary maintains a low-key approach to the drama in favor of something more light-hearted in its approach to humor as well as James’ journey about the world around him including those who participated in the TV show that his fake parents created. Even in what would become James’ vision for this film as he would do what he can to create something faithful to the TV show but also as a closing chapter in his life. Overall, McCary creates a touching and witty film about an abducted young man who seeks out to finish his captors’ TV special into a film.
Cinematographer Christian Sprenger does excellent work with the film’s cinematography as it is largely straightforward with some grainy video footage for the TV show presentation as it was shot largely on video. Editor Jacob Craycroft does nice work with the editing as it is straightforward with some rhythmic cuts that play into the humor and drama. Production designer Brandon Tonner-Connolly, with set decorator Cynthia A. Neibaur and art director Andy Eklund, does amazing work with the look of some of the amateurish sets that James and Spencer created along with the props from the show. Costume designer Sarah Mae Burton does fantastic work with the clothes and costumes of the show including the homemade costumes that were created along with the casual look of the people in James’ life.
The visual effects work of Andrew Sherman is brilliant for its approach to amateurish visual effects and usage of practical effects to create something as if it was homemade. Sound editor Leslie Shatz does superb work with the sound as it create some sound effects for the film along with some usage of naturalistic sound in various parts of the film. The film’s music by David Wingo is wonderful for its usage of ambient and electronic pieces to play up the feel of the 1980s as if the TV show was created in the 1980s while music supervisor Kier Lehman provides a mixture of music for its soundtrack that includes acts like YACHT, Kyle, DecadeZ, Vessel, Join the Riot, and Nate Heller.
The casting by Courtney Bright and Nicole Daniels is great as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Andy Samberg as mental hospital patient James befriends late in the film, Tim Heidecker as an actor in a movie James sees with his dad, Kate Lyn Sheil as an actress who appeared on the TV show as an object of affection for James, Alexa Demie and Chance Crimin in their respective roles as a couple of Aubrey’s friends in Merideth and Logan, Beck Bennett as a detective in Deputy Banner who becomes suspicious about James’ activities, and Claire Dane in a terrific small role as the Pope’s family psychiatrist Emily who is trying to understand James only to make suggestions that proved to be not helpful to his well-being.
Jorge Lendeborg Jr. is superb as Aubrey’s friend Spencer who becomes fascinated by the TV show that James tells him about where he would upload episodes to YouTube and become James’ key collaborator in the film. Matt Walsh and Michaela Watkins are fantastic as James’ real parents in their respective roles as Greg and Louise Pope who are trying to re-establish their relationship with their son while being confused by his obsession for the show while Ryan Simpkins is wonderful as James’ younger teenage sister who initially doesn’t want to do much with him only to become a collaborator for his film where they start to bond.
Mark Hamill and Jane Adams are excellent as James’ captors in their respective roles as Ted and April Mitchum with Hamill as the creator of this TV show who has also been James’ protector with April as the maternal figure where the two try to protect James from the ugliness of the world. Greg Kinnear is brilliant as Detective Vogel as the man who brings James back home while becomes interested in what James is doing prompting him to return to his love for acting by taking part in the film. Finally, there’s Kyle Mooney in an amazing performance as James Pope as an abducted young man who is a big fan of a TV show he believed everyone knows only to learn he was abducted yet is more concerned about the next episode forcing him to create his own film where it’s a charming and heartfelt performance of a man whose innocence is his key to living.
Brigsby Bear is a sensational film from Dave McCary. Along with its ensemble cast, touching script, dazzling visual effects, and old-school approach to amateurish filmmaking. It’s a comedy-drama that touches all of the right places while not being afraid in expressing sentimentality in a young man wanting to finish the creation that his abductors had created. In the end, Brigsby Bear is a phenomenal film from Dave McCary.
© thevoid99 2019
Written for the screen and directed by Rian Johnson that is based on characters created by George Lucas, The Last Jedi (Star Wars: Episode VIII) is the story of a continuing conflict between the First Order and the Resistance as a young woman finds Luke Skywalker in the hopes he can help out the Resistance while being trained in the art of the Force. The second part of a trilogy that explore the chaos of war, the film is also an exploration into the evolution of the Force in which Skywalker discovers a power that drove him away many years ago as he is played by Mark Hamill. Also starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Gwendoline Christie, Anthony Daniels, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, Benicio del Toro, Joonas Suotamo, Jimmy Vee, and Carrie Fisher in her final performance as General Leia Organa. The Last Jedi is a visceral yet rapturous film from Rian Johnson.
Picking up where the previous film left off, the film revolves around a resistance who find themselves trying to evacuate their base to find a new one as they’re forced to confront the First Order who have been tracking them. With Resistance forces dwindling and little options left, the Resistance led by General Leia Organa is on a cruiser that is damaged and running low on fuel. Meanwhile, Rey (Daisy Ridley) is trying to get Luke Skywalker back on board as he is reluctant to help the Resistance as he’s still coping with his own faults believing he failed his apprentice Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Rian Johnson’s screenplay, with contributions from Carrie Fisher, is filled with a lot of complexities as well as a lot of narrative arcs that relate to the Resistance struggling to survive as their fleet is in tatters. Rey's character arc with Luke that include Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) and R2-D2 (Jimmy Vee) has her trying to find her place as well as get Luke to train her where he realizes the power that she has. Yet, Rey would find herself communicating with Ren through the Force which lead to some trouble and revelations about why he betrayed Luke.
Another narrative arc involves a leadership struggle in the Resistance following an attack on a large First Order ship where Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) has to deal with the Resistance’s deputy leader Vice Admiral Amilyn Hodo (Laura Dern) who is trying to decide what to do next knowing that the First Order can still track the Resistance through light-speed. Poe would strategize a plan to disable a tracking device from a Star Destroyer with Finn (John Boyega) and the droid BB-8 (voice of Ben Burtt and Bill Hader) teaming with a mechanic in Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) to find a hacker to disable that tracking device. It’s an arc that showcases not just Poe’s own development as someone who is very impulsive and reckless in his actions as he needs to know how to be a leader as well as Finn trying to find his place in the Resistance where he befriends Rose who is dealing with loss. Another arc play into Ren’s rivalry with First Order leader General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) in trying to win the approval of the First Order’s leader Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) who wants to destroy the Resistance while that narrative also showcases Ren’s own struggle with himself.
Johnson’s direction is definitely astronomical into not just the different worlds that the characters go to but also have half the film’s narrative set in space where the Resistance is being pursued by the First Order. With much of the film shot on Pinewood Studios in London as well as scenes shot on location in Ireland, Iceland, Mexico, and Bolivia, the film showcases a world that is starting to come apart as well as see some of the darkest aspects of war. The film begins with the Resistance in evacuation mode where it is immediate as it showcases what the Resistance tries to do but also how the First Order would retaliate. It’s a massive sequence which also has elements of character development that showcases what Poe would do to confront the First Order but it comes at a great cost as there is a lot of drama that goes on where General Leia rightfully scolds Poe for his recklessness.
Johnson’s usage of the wide shots capture not just some of the damage that goes on in war but also into the vast world of the galaxy that the characters are in that include Rose and Finn’s journey to this planet that houses a casino for the galaxy’s wealthiest people. It’s a sequence that is strange as it play into a reality about war where it’s a world of decadence and riches that Rose knows and despises where she and Finn try to find this mysterious hacker where they meet this mysterious man named DJ (Benicio del Toro). There are some close-ups and medium shots that Johnson would use as it include these unique Force conversations between Rey and Kylo who are both dealing their place in the Force. It’s told with some unique reverse shots and scenes that are surreal while Johnson would also include a flashback sequence of what really happened when Kylo betrayed Skywalker.
It’s among these chilling moments as well as the scene where Rey meets Snoke for the first time as it would lead an intense sequence that is about the ideas of the Jedi and the Sith. Johnson would also infuse some humor into the film as it include moments of humility for Poe as well as Snoke’s confrontation towards General Hux. Yet, it is all about this battle between good and evil where the latter has put the former into a corner where the film’s climax is about survival with all that is left for the Resistance. It’s a majestic sequence that has a lot happening as well as characters coming together for a moment that could be the end of everything or just the beginning. Overall, Johnson crafts a riveting and gripping film about a group of resistance fighters trying to survive against an evil empire intent on ruling the galaxy.
Cinematographer Steve Yedlin does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography from the naturalistic look of the scenes set in the planet of Ahch-To where Luke has been hiding out to the low-key and stylish lighting for the scenes in the spaceships, the casinos, and at the caves in an old Rebellion fortress. Editor Bob Ducsay does excellent work with the editing with its usage of stylish dissolves and match-cuts as well as some rhythmic cutting into the action and suspense as it add some intrigue and establishing what is at stake. Production designer Rick Heinrichs, with set decorator Richard Roberts and senior art director Phil Sims, does amazing work with the look of the cruiser and transport for the Resistance in its interiors to the look of the lavish casino that Finn and Rose go to as well as Snoke’s main room inside the large Star Destroyer.
Costume designer Michael Kaplan does fantastic work with the costumes from the dresses that General Leia and Vice Admiral Hodo wears to the clothes of the people at the casino. Hair/makeup designer Peter King does superb work with the look of Vice Admiral Hodo with her purple hair as well as the people at the casino who look very posh and decadent. Creature designer Neal Scanlan does incredible work with the look of the tiny creatures at the planet of Ahch-To known as the Porgs as well as some of the inhabitants of the planet and at the casino and the caves. Special effects supervisor Chris Corbould and visual effects supervisor Ben Morris do marvelous work with the design of some of the visual effects for the scenes in space as well as in the design of some of the creatures with its mixture of old-school practical effects and computer-created visual effects.
Sound designers Ben Burtt and Ren Klyce, with sound editor Matthew Wood, do remarkable work with the sound with the sound effects in how the droids make their sounds including an Imperial BB-unit and the sounds of some of the creatures in the film. The film’s music by John Williams is phenomenal for its bombastic orchestral score that is filled with lush string arrangements and themes that range from heavy to somber as it is one of the film’s major highlights.
The casting by Nina Gold, Milivoj Mestrovic, and Mary Vernieu is great as it feature some notable small roles from Timothy D. Rose as Admiral Ackbar, Mike Quinn as Nien Nubb, Veronica Ngo as Rose’s bomber sister Paige, Billie Lourd as Resistance lieutenant Connix, Jimmy Vee as Luke’s old droid R2-D2 who is dealing with Porgs and wanting Luke to come home, the voice of Ben Burtt and Bill Hader as the droid BB-8 who provide some funny and cool moments in the film, Justin Theroux as a big-time gambler at the casino, Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca with special consultation by Peter Mayhew who deals with trying to get Luke home and the Porgs, Anthony Daniels as the protocol droid C-3PO who frets over the situation of the Resistance, Lupita Nyong’o as the famed pirate Maz Kanata who provides Poe some information while dealing with a war involving other pirates, and Gwendoline Christie as the Stormtroopers commander Captain Phasma who has a huge grudge towards Finn as she is willing to go after him anyway she can. Benicio del Toro is superb as a codebreaker/hacker named DJ as a man who is willing to help anyone all for money to display his own cynical views on war.
Domhnall Gleeson is fantastic as General Hux as a First Order military leader that is hell-bent on destroying the Resistance and wanting to win over Snoke where he’s not afraid to be a punching bag in some of the most hilarious moments. Laura Dern is amazing as Vice Admiral Amilyn Hodo as a Resistance leader that briefly takes over for an injured Leia as she spars with Poe over what to do as she is someone that knows what is at stake and what needs to be done as it’s a very graceful performance from Dern. Kelly Marie Tran is wonderful as Rose Tico as a Resistance mechanic who aids Finn and BB-8 in a mission to find a codebreaker to help the Resistance evade the First Order as she is someone who is aware of the corruption of the galaxy as well as being someone that is willing to fight for what is right. Andy Serkis is brilliant as Supreme Leader Snoke as the mysterious Sith lord and leader of the First Order who is eager to know who Rey is and what he can do for her as well as ordering Kylo to bring her in an attempt to get back in his favor.
Oscar Isaac is excellent as Poe Dameron as the Resistance pilot who copes with the leadership struggle in the Resistance as he tries to create a secret mission as he’s forced to deal with some of the reckless decisions he’s made in his need to learn how to be a leader. John Boyega is marvelous as Finn as a former Stormtroooper who decides to take part in a secret mission created by Poe as he would see exactly what is happening and what the First Order is trying to do. Adam Driver is remarkable as Kylo Ren as Luke’s former apprentice who has turned to the dark side of the Force as he copes with failures in the past as well as his own internal conflict into the role he wants to take. Daisy Ridley is incredible as Rey as a scavenger who is trying to find out who she is and her place in the galaxy while trying to get Luke back into the Resistance while dealing with all sorts of things as it’s a powerful performance from Ridley.
Mark Hamill is phenomenal as Luke Skywalker as the famed Jedi master who has distanced himself from the art of the Jedi as there’s an air of nihilism about Luke’s view on the Jedi due to the fact that he’s consumed with guilt over Kylo and his reluctance to train Rey which lead to some revelations over his failures as a Jedi master. Finally, there’s Carrie Fisher in a radiant performance as General Leia Organa as the Resistance leader who is trying to carry a sense of hope for the Resistance as she knows how grim things are as it’s a performance of grace and elegance where Fisher delivers a performance that is one for the ages as it’s a fitting finale for the late Carrie Fisher.
The Last Jedi is a tremendous film from Rian Johnson. Featuring a great cast, dazzling visual effects, a riveting script with many revelations and character arcs, John Williams’ sumptuous score, and high-octane action. It’s a film that manages to be a lot of things expected in a sci-fi epic while also taking some risks to showcase some of the dark aspects of war and the idea of failure and redemption. In the end, The Last Jedi is a spectacular film from Rian Johnson.
Star Wars Films: Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back - Return of the Jedi - The Phantom Menace - Attack of the Clones - Revenge of the Sith - The Force Awakens - The Rise of Skywalker
Anthology Series: Rogue One - Solo: A Star Wars Story – (Untitled Star Wars Anthology Film)
Related: The Star Wars Holiday Special - Caravan of Courage - The Battle for Endor - The Clone Wars - Fanboys - The People vs. George Lucas
George Lucas Films: THX 1138 – (American Graffiti)
Rian Johnson Films: Brick - The Brothers Bloom - Looper - Knives Out - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery - (Knives Out 3)
© thevoid99 2017
Written and directed by Samuel Fuller, The Big Red One is the story of a platoon dealing with war during their campaign in Europe and North Africa during World War II. Based on aspects of Fuller’s own experiences as a soldier, the film is an in-depth look of what goes on in the battlefield where a young platoon follows its leader to survival as they deal with the horrors of war. Starring Lee Marvin, Mark Hamill, Robert Carradine, Bobby Di Cicco, Kelly Ward, Siegfried Rauch, Marthe Villalonga, and Stephane Audran. The Big Red One is an intense and gripping film from Samuel Fuller.
The film follows the 1st Infantry Division during World War II from their campaign in North Africa in November of 1942 to the liberation of the Falkenau concentration camp in May of 1945 led by its sergeant (Lee Marvin). The film follows a sergeant and four men from his platoon as they deal with their many campaigns in the span of nearly three years as it’s largely told by a wannabe-novelist in Private Zab (Robert Carradine) who is the film’s narrator as he is joined by the sharpshooter Private Griff (Mark Hamill), the Italian-American Private Vinci (Bobby Di Cicco), and the medic Private Johnson (Kelly Ward). Samuel Fuller’s screenplay begins with the sergeant fighting in World War I as he would learn the war just ended after killing someone at a place in France which he would revisit years later.
Fuller’s screenplay doesn’t really have much of a plot as it would delve into an episodic narrative of sorts as it follows the sergeant and his platoon into different adventures in the course of their time in Europe and North Africa. Yet, Fuller is more interested in the comradery between the sergeant and his four privates where the sergeant doesn’t really act like some leader who barks orders but rather a soldier who knows what to do and make sure his men aren’t killed. At the same time, he’s kind of a father to them as he would let them get away with a few things but always keep them in check. Especially Pvt. Griff who has a hard time coping with the idea of killing someone as the sergeant reveal some of the dark and cynical aspects of war that is quite true. The script also has a subplot relating to a German officer named Schroeder (Siegfried Rauch) who is a counterpart of sorts for the sergeant as they would encounter each other from time to time during battles yet never meet each other directly. Schroeder is an interesting antagonist who has an undying sense of loyalty to Hitler and the Nazis but has a hard time accepting criticism of their ideals.
Fuller’s direction is definitely intense in terms of some of the battle scenes and action though Fuller doesn’t make it gratuitous nor overblown as it’s often the case with a lot of war films. Shot largely in Ireland with the North African locations shot in Israel as well as some of it shot in California, Fuller explores the different kind of obstacles the sergeant and his men would endure throughout the course of the film. While Fuller would use a lot of wide shots, along with some medium shots, to capture the scope of the locations. It’s in the close-ups and extreme close-ups is where Fuller captures the human aspects of war whether it’s a soldier looking at some of the horror or scenes of them observing their surroundings. Even if it’s moment of fun such as a scene late in the film where Pvt. Zab has a party for the platoon at a house in Belgium as it’s a moment of joy and fun. Fuller would create scenes that are odd as it help give the film a different tone that is often synonymous with war films.
The sequence at an insane asylum where the sergeant and his men meet a woman who is part of the French Resistance would be this mixture of dark humor and suspense that show what the 1st Infantry Division had to do. It’s among some of the offbeat moments in the film as well as what some soldiers have to use to protect their rifles in the water. Yet, Fuller does maintain some realism as it relates to the horrors of war as well as some of the humanity as it relates to the people the sergeant and his platoon encounter. Though some of it is dark, Fuller does show moments of compassion such as a little moment where a young girl puts flowers on the sergeant’s helmet or the film’s climax at the concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. Overall, Fuller crafts a chilling yet captivating film about the 1st Infantry Division’s adventure during World War II.
Cinematographer Adam Greenberg does excellent work with the film’s cinematography as its usage of soft-lights and naturalistic photography for some of the daytime exteriors help give the film a beautiful look including some chilling moments involving some of the violence in the film. Editor Morton Tubor, with Bryan McKenzie for the 2004 reconstruction, does brilliant work with the editing as it is largely straightforward without emphasizing too much on style. Art director Peter Jamison does fantastic work with the look of some of the sets including a big cross that the sergeant would see reminding him of his time in World War I as well as the interiors at the asylum.
Sound editor Jack A. Finlay, with sound designers Mark Linden, Tara A. Paul, and Harry E. Snodgrass for the 2004 reconstruction, does superb work with the sound in capturing some of the horrors of war including the sounds of bombs and gunfire. The film’s music by Dana Kaproff is wonderful for its orchestral-based score as it play into some of the dramatic moments of suspense as well as some offbeat moments in the film in some light-hearted pieces.
The film’s marvelous cast include some notable small roles from Christa Lang as a German countess Schroeder sleeps with, Pascal Bruer as a Hitler Youth member, Galit Rotman as a pregnant Frenchwoman, Matteo Zoffoli as a Sicilian boy who helps the platoon in exchange for them to help bury his mother, Perry Lang as a young private named Kaiser, Doug Werner as a Polish-American soldier, and Marthe Villalonga as a madam at a Belgium house where the platoon briefly stay at. Stephane Audran is terrific as a French spy pretending to be a patient at an insane asylum as she helps the sergeant and his platoon while befriending Pvt. Griff. Siegfried Rauch is superb as Schroeder as a German officer who is kind of the counterpart for the sergeant as they share similar views on war yet he is someone that is truly devoted to Hitler as he will kill those who says something bad about him.
Kelly Ward is excellent as Pvt. Johnson as a farm boy who has experience in being a doctor as he tries to cope with the chaos of war as well as be someone who is very loyal to his platoon. Bobby Di Cicco is fantastic as Private Vinci as an Italian-American who says some of the film’s funniest things while being quite tough in dealing with the enemy. Robert Carradine is brilliant as Private Zab as the film’s narrator as someone who provides some humor as well as witty commentary on things as he’s using his experiences for a book. Mark Hamill is amazing as Private Griff as a sharpshooter who has a hard time with the idea of killing someone as he would display some humility and weariness as someone who would see a lot as he copes with some of the darkest aspects of war. Finally, there’s Lee Marvin in an incredible performance as the sergeant as a man who has been through a lot of wars as he tries to maintain some sense of morale as well as be someone who knows what not to do as it is really one of Marvin’s career-defining performances.
The Big Red One is a phenomenal film from Samuel Fuller. Featuring a great cast, an engaging story about what men go through in war, dazzling technical work, and a fantastic music score. It’s a war film that doesn’t exactly play by the rules while displaying elements of humanity and comradery that is often missed in war films. In the end, The Big Red One is a spectacular film from Samuel Fuller.
Samuel Fuller Films: I Shot Jesse James - The Baron of Arizona - Steel Helmet - Fixed Bayonets! - Park Row - Pickup on South Street - (Hell and High Water) - House of Bamboo - (China Gate) - Run of the Arrow - Forty Guns - Verboten! - The Crimson Kimono - Underworld U.S.A. - Merrill's Marauders - Shock Corridor - The Naked Kiss - (Shark!) - (Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street) - White Dog - (Thieves After Dark) - (Street of No Return) - (The Madonna and the Dragon)
© thevoid99 2017
Based on the novel The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham, Village of the Damned is the story of a small town that is ravaged by mysterious children women gave birth to during following a strange blackout as they would try and control everything around them. Directed and co-scored by John Carpenter and screenplay by David Himmelstein, the film is remake of the 1960 horror film by Wolf Rilla as it is updated and set in Northern California as it play into a modern world ravaged by mysterious children. Starring Christopher Reeve, Kirstie Alley, Linda Kozlowski, Michael Pare, Thomas Dekker, Meredith Salenger, and Mark Hamill. Village of the Damned is a flat-out boring and terrible film from John Carpenter.
A small yet isolated town in Northern California goes into a strange blackout where everyone passes out with a few of its locals dead where ten of its women gave birth to children nine months later as their children have become these strange and controlling figures trying to kill those who threaten them. That is pretty much the premise of the film as a whole as it has a lot of mystique into what the locals are dealing with where a doctor, a school principal, and a government agent try to figure out what is going on. The film’s screenplay, which features un-credited work from Steven Siebert and Larry Sulkis, tries to maintain that air of mystique ends up with very little answers about the blackout and why these children act so strange and kill those who threaten them with only their eyes. At the same time, there is very little development with the locals with the exception of Dr. Alan Chaffee (Christopher Reeve), the school principal Jill McGowan (Linda Kozlowski), and the government agent Dr. Susan Verner (Kirstie Alley).
Yet, they’re given some awful dialogue while Dr. Verner has to give a lot of exposition that never makes a lot of sense as it relates to the blackout and these powers that the children have. Jill becomes attached to her son David (Thomas Dekker) who would begin to understand and express emotions unlike the other children who were born on the same day as well as conceived on the day of the blackout. David is stunted because he doesn’t have a mate like the other kids as his supposed mate is a stillborn child while the others have someone to latch on. It also makes them very dangerous as they would make the adults, who threaten them, to kill themselves. Unfortunately, the children are among the most uninteresting antagonists in the film as they just spout a bunch of very clinical ideas as the dialogue and such just makes it sound very idiotic.
John Carpenter’s direction has some nice visual moments that play into beauty of the locations as it is shot in Marin County in California. Yet, it never really does anything to engage the audience into the suspense as Carpenter just goes for something straight due to the lackluster elements of the script. The suspense never holds up as the moments where the children would have their eyes glow to make the adults harm themselves often comes across as forced. There are these moments of violence that are intense but it also comes across as cheesy where Carpenter is really hampered by the many shortcomings of the script. The compositions in the medium shots and close-ups has Carpenter try to flesh out the drama while creating moments that are simple in the way characters interact each other. Unfortunately, it would lead to these moments of suspense as its climax that involves police and the national guard trying to stop those children becomes this ridiculous bloodbath that is very lackluster. Overall, Carpenter creates a very uneventful and lazy suspense film about scary children wreaking havoc into a small town.
Cinematographer Gary B. Kibbe does nice work with the cinematography as it is mostly natural and sunny for some of the daytime exteriors in the locations while using some lights for the scenes set at night. Editor Edward A. Warschilka does terrible work with the editing as it is nonsensical at times to play into the suspense and action as well as having some odd transitions that really don‘t work. Production designer Rodger Maus, with art director Christa Munro and set decorators Rick Brown and Don De Fina, does fantastic work with the look of the town including the barn where the children would stay in the film‘s third act. Costume designer Robin Michael Bush does terrific work with the costumes as a lot of the clothes are casual with the exception of the children with their gray and white clothes.
Special makeup effects artist Rob Hinderstein and hair stylist Charlotte Parker do excellent work with the look of the kids from the white hair and pale skin as well as the creepiness of their presence. Visual effects supervisor Bruce Nicholson does fine work with some of the minimal visual effects for the blackout sequence as well as the scenes where the children‘s eyes glow. Sound editor John Dunn does superb work with some of the sound from the way the glowing eyes sound as well as some of the moments of chaos. The film’s music by John Carpenter and Dave Davies is pretty good with Carpenter providing a largely low-key synthesizer score to play into the suspense with Davies providing some blues-based guitars in the background.
The casting by Reuben Cannon, Peter Jason, Sandy King, and Cheryl Miller is decent with the actors they used though none of them really had any strong material to work. Small roles from Karen Kahn as Dr. Chaffee’s wife Barbara, Constance Forslund as Jill’s friend Gail, Peter Jason as Gail’s husband Ben, George “Buck” Flower as a janitor who doesn’t like the strange kids, and Pippa Pearthree as the reverend’s wife Sarah are among those who suffer from the script as do Michael Pare as Jill’s husband Frank who dies early in the film and Meredith Salenger as a young virgin named Melanie who would give birth to the stillborn child. Mark Hamill is miscast as Reverend George as a town minister that tries to maintain some calm as he too becomes suspicious of the children as Hamill tries to ham it up which doesn’t work.
The performances of Thomas Dekker and Lindsey Haun in their respective roles as the strange children in David and Mara are just horrible as they provide some very amateurish and unrealistic performances while their line-reading is just awful to hear as is the other child actors playing the weird kids. Linda Kozlowski is alright as Jill as a woman who loses her husband and is a mother to the boy David as she tries to see if there is any humanity in the children as she becomes attached to her son. Kirstie Alley is pretty good as Dr. Susan Verner as a government agent that knows about these events as she tries to see how to stop them but also become aware of their powers. Finally, there’s Christopher Reeve in a terrific performance as Dr. Alan Chaffee as a man that tries to talk to the children and see if there is any humanity in them as well as be one of the few who could out-think them.
Despite a few decent performances and some nice visuals, Village of the Damned is an atrocious film from John Carpenter. Due to its very poor script, lack of any meaty suspense, and too much exposition that becomes nonsensical. It’s a film that showcases a filmmaker phoning it in while never really do anything to make the story engaging. In the end, Village of the Damned is an awful film from John Carpenter.
Related: Village of the Damned (1960 film)
John Carpenter Films: Dark Star - Assault on Precinct 13 - Halloween - Someone's Watching Me! - Elvis - The Fog - Escape from New York - The Thing - Christine - Starman - Big Trouble in Little China - Prince of Darkness - They Live - Memoirs of an Invisible Man - Body Bags - In the Mouth of Madness - Escape from L.A. - Vampires - Ghosts of Mars - The Ward
The Auteurs #60: John Carpenter Part 1 - Part 2
© thevoid99 2016
Directed and starring John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper and written by Dan Angel and Billy Brown, Body Bags is an anthology film where a coroner and two morgue attendees tell three different stories relating to the bodies they’re analyzing. The first entitled The Gas Station is about a serial killer stalking a gas station attendee while the second entitled The Hair is about a botched hair transplant involving an alien parasite as both segments are directed by John Carpenter. The third entitled Eye is about a baseball player who receives an eye transplant unaware that it belonged to a killer that is trying to possess him as it is helmed by Tobe Hooper. Also starring Robert Carradine, Stacy Keach, David Warner, Twiggy, Sheena Easton, Mark Hamill, Tom Arnold, and Debbie Harry. Body Bags is a riveting and enjoyable film from John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper.
The film is essentially a trilogy of tales told by a coroner (John Carpenter) as it play to the bodies he is examining in one scary night. The first entitled The Gas Station is about a college student who works on her very first night as a gas station attendee as she deals with strange customers as well as the presence of a serial killer on the loose. The second story entitled The Hair is about a middle-aged man dealing with baldness as he goes to a mysterious doctor about a hair transplant where everything seems to go well until he discover alien parasites in his hair. The third and final story entitled Eye is about a baseball player who loses his right eye in a car accident where he goes into surgery to get a new one as he starts to see strange things involving dead bodies and such. All of it is told in different styles where screenwriters Dan Angel and Billy Brown play up some of the suspense where The Gas Station is about an unusual first day at work while Hair is about insecurities and vanities that eventually catches up to a man. Eye is about a man desperate to go back to baseball unaware of the horror he is seeing with his new eye.
Since the first two segments and inserts are directed by John Carpenter and Eye is helmed by Tobe Hooper with Larry Sulkin providing additional work on the insert scenes. Each segment is given a different feel as both Carpenter and Hooper both provide their own idea to their segments while the inserts where Carpenter plays the coroner are presented in a comedic manner. For The Gas Station, Carpenter creates something that is more of a suspense film as it is about a college student’s first day as a gas station attendant where there are bits of humor but also moments where Carpenter plays with the suspense. Much of his compositions in that segment and The Hair are quite simple where the latter is a bit more playful as Carpenter goes for something straightforward rather than make it a big-time horror piece. The scariest segment is definitely Eye where Hooper creates something that is more conventional in terms of the horror genre but prefers to play it out slowly as it also has some more stylistic compositions including surreal moments that play into the terror. Overall, Carpenter and Hooper create a fun and thrilling anthology film about terror.
Cinematographer Gary Kibbe does excellent work with the cinematography from the colorful look of the interiors at the morgue as well as the nighttime exterior scenes for The Gas Station and Eye. Editor Edward A. Warschilka does nice work with the editing as it is stylish with its rhythmic cuts to play into the suspense for all of the segments. Production designer Daniel A. Lomino and set decorator Cloudia Rebar do fantastic work with the look of the morgue as well as the gas station interiors for The Gas Station as well as the more straightforward look of the other segments.
The makeup work of Rick Baker and Greg LaCava, with hair stylist Carolyn Elias, do amazing work for the look of the mortician as well as the look of the new eye in Eye as well as the hair in The Hair. The special effects work of Howard Jensen is terrific as it play into the look of the parasites for The Hair. Sound editor Anthony Milch does superb work with the sound as it help create some of the chilling moments of suspense in The Gas Station and Eye. The film’s music by John Carpenter and Jim Lang is wonderful with Carpenter providing some unique electronic-based pieces for The Gas Station while going for kitsch-based jazz in The Hair while Lang provides a more symphonic score for Eye.
The film’s cast is great as it features an array of cameos from horror film icons as well as pop culture icons. For the scenes set in the morgue, John Carpenter is hilarious as the mortician while Tobe Hooper and Tom Arnold are terrific in their brief roles as the morgue attendees. In The Gas Station, the cameo appearances from Wes Craven as a customer, George Buck Flower as a homeless guy, and Sam Raimi as a dead guy are fun yet the short is largely focused on Robert Carradine in a superb role as the gas station attendant who shows the new girl what to do while Alex Datcher is wonderful as the new girl Anne who is stalked by a crazed serial killer. In The Hair, the appearances of model Kim Alexis and special makeup effects creator Gregory Nicotero as people with good hair are fun to watch while Debbie Harry is a hoot as a nurse trying to help the protagonist find the right look.
David Warner is excellent as Dr. Lock as the man who can help the character Richard find new hair while Sheena Easton is fantastic as Richard’s girlfriend Megan who tries to assure him that he looks fine. Stacy Keach is brilliant as Richard as a man who becomes insecure over his bald hair as he is eager to have a new look and feel happy only for things to go wrong. In Eye, the cameo appearances of Charles Napier as a baseball coach, Roger Corman as a doctor, and John Agar as the surgeon are just amazing to watch while Twiggy is terrific as Brent’s wife Cathy who becomes worried about her husband’s troubled behavior. Mark Hamill is marvelous as Brent Matthews as baseball player who loses his eye in a car accident as he gets a new eye but becomes unhinged by what he is seeing as Hamill definitely camps it up for the performance.
Body Bags is a remarkable film from John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper. It’s a fun anthology film that feature a trilogy of stories created by two masters of horror as it’s a film that is about terror at its most chilling. In the end, Body Bags is an exhilarating and fun film from John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper.
Tobe Hooper Films: (Eggshells) - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - (Eaten Alive) - (Salem’s Lot) - (The Funhouse) - (Poltergeist) - Lifeforce - (Invaders from Mars) - (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2) - (Spontaneous Combustion) - (I’m Dangerous Tonight) - (Night Terrors) - (The Mangler) - (The Apartment Complex) - (Crocodile (2000 film)) - (Toolbox Murders) - (Mortuary) - (Djinn)
John Carpenter Films: Dark Star - Assault on Precinct 13 - Someone's Watching Me! - Halloween - Elvis - The Fog
- Escape from New York - The Thing - Christine - Starman - Big Trouble in Little China - Prince of Darkness - They Live - Memoirs of an Invisible Man - In the Mouth of Madness - Village of the Damned - Escape from L.A. - Vampires - Ghosts of Mars - The Ward
The Auteurs #60: John Carpenter Part 1 - Part 2
© thevoid99 2016
Based on the comic book The Secret Service by Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar, Kingsman: The Secret Service is the story of a young man who is recruited to be part of a secret spy organization where they try to save the world from a megalomaniacal man of great wealth. Directed by Matthew Vaughn and screenplay by Vaughn and Jane Goldman, the film is a take on the world of spies and what it takes to become a badass spy with a sense of style. Starring Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Sophie Cookson, Sofia Boutella, Mark Hamill, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Caine. Kingsman: The Secret Service is an exhilarating and fun film from Matthew Vaughn.
The film revolves around a young man, whose father had died when he was young, as he is recruited to be part of a secret organization from a man who feels he owes a debt to that young man’s father for saving his life. There, the two deal with a wealthy Internet mogul who has plans to wipe out most of the population in favor of saving the world as it forces the secret organization of the Kingsman to save the world. It’s a film with a simple plot that plays into a lot of the tropes that is expected in spy films such as world domination, chaos, and doing what is right. Yet, Matthew Vaughn and co-screenwriter Jane Goldman become aware of these clichés and play with those while investing their time in developing a young man who was going through an aimless life into finding something that has meaning.
The protagonist Eggsy (Taron Egerton) is a young kid who lost his father at a young age where he’s been living with his mother, an abusive stepfather, and infant half-sister where he had all of the grades and potential to be something more than a criminal but has a chip on his shoulder. When he meets Harry Hart aka Galahad (Colin Firth) who knew Eggsy’s father, he would bail him out and show him what he could be as Galahad is a spy that looks like a tailor but proves to be a formidable badass. Yet, Galahad is also dealing with the loss of one of his colleagues and needs a replacement where he and the Kingsman are dealing with this billionaire named Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) who is an odd villain of sorts. A billionaire with a lisp and can’t stand the sight of blood despite what he is doing to the world with his new free software that he gives to the world which really serves as what he is planning to do. Once Galahad and the Kingsman senior agent Merlin (Mark Strong) realize what they’re dealing with, they knew something had to be done which also prompts Eggsy to fulfill his own potential.
Matthew Vaughn’s direction is definitely stylish from some of the tracking shots and long takes he creates for some of the scenes to the mixture of violence and humor that is injected in the film. While it starts off with comical moments of violence, Vaughn does play into some of the impact that occurs such as an opening sequence where Eggsy’s father sacrifices himself to save three men from a suicide bomber which plays into Galahad making an oath to be there for Eggsy. While some of the action and suspenseful moments are quite gripping, Vaughn does find a way to inject some humor but also play into what is at stake where Eggsy learns what he has to do to become a Kingsman. Even in a tense moment where he meets with Kingsman leader Arthur (Michael Caine) that would serve as a major test to see if he can really become one. Vaughn’s usage of close-ups and medium shots do play into the drama as well as Eggsy coming to term with who he is but also someone that has a lot of attachments which is often the reason for why he never able to live up to his promises as a young man.
When the film reaches its third act where the Kingsman have to confront Valentine, it is presented in a grand scale in terms of its set pieces and what is at stake where Eggsy not only fulfills that potential. He also becomes aware of what is at stake where Vaughn does play with the conventions of these climaxes as some of it is very violent but also has this air of dark comedy that manages to be a whole lot of fun to watch. Especially in what Valentine unleashes into the world through his app which gave the world free internet and free cellphone usages which plays into the drawbacks of the modern world. Overall, Vaughn creates a very thrilling yet witty film about a young man who realizes his potential to be something more as well as saving the world.
Cinematographer George Richmond does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography with its usage of lights for many of the nighttime interior settings including the film‘s climax as well as some of the exteriors in the day to play off its natural look for scenes set in London. Editors Eddie Hamilton and Jon Harris do nice work with the editing as it does have some fast-paced rhythmic cuts for some of the action and conversations while knowing when not to cut such as some of the tracking shots. Production designer Paul Kirby, with supervising art director Andy Thomson and set decorators Naomi Moore, David Morison, and Jennifer Williams, does fantastic work with the set design from the look of the Kingsman base and its training facilities to the secret hideout where Valentine holds his party. Costume designer Arianne Phillips does terrific work with the costumes from the tailored suits the Kingsman wear as well as the stylish clothes of Valentine.
Hair/makeup designer Christine Blundell does wonderful work with the hairstyles of the characters including the one Galahad would wear during his brief comatose state. Visual effects supervisors Steven Begg, Huseyin Caner, and Matt Kasmir do fine work with some of the visual effects though some of the background stuff don‘t look finished at times. Sound designer Matthew Collinge and sound editor Danny Sheehan do superb work with the sound in creating some sound effects for some of the gadgets the Kingsman use along with some of the sound that occurs in the locations and places the characters go to. The film’s music by Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson is amazing for its mixture of orchestral bombast and some pulsating electronic music as the latter plays more into Eggsy‘s personality while music supervisor Ian Neill creates a fun soundtrack that features a plethora of music ranging from rock, pop, and hip-hop from acts like Lynyrd Skynyrd, KC and the Sunshine Band, Dire Straits, Take That, Dizzee Rascal, Iggy Azalea and Ellie Goulding, and Bryan Ferry.
The casting by Reg Poerscout-Edgerton is brilliant as it features notable small roles from Jack Cutmore-Scott, Tom Prior, and Fiona Hampton as a few Kingsman candidates, Hanna Alstrom as the Swedish princess who refuses to make a deal with Valentine, Bjorn Floberg as the Swedish prime minister, Richard Brake as an interrogator for the candidates, Jack Davenport as the original Lancelot who tried to save a professor, Geoff Bell as Eggsy’s abusive stepfather Dean, Samantha Womack as Eggsy’s mother whom he cares about, and Mark Hamill in a terrific role as Professor James Arnold as this man who would be a pawn into what Valentine is creating. Edward Holcroft is superb as the Kingsman candidate Charlie Hesketh who bears all of the attributes to be a Kingsman as he is the total opposite of what Eggsy brings to the organization.
Sofia Boutella is fantastic as Valentine’s amputated henchwoman Gazelle as this woman who is beautiful but dangerous as her sword-like legs are very dangerous. Sophie Cookson is amazing as Kingsman candidate Roxanne as a young woman who befriends Eggsy as she is one of the few who doesn’t dismiss his working-class background while being someone who can be a Kingsman and do what is right. Michael Caine is excellent as Arthur as the Kingsman leader who tries to sort out everything that is happening as well as deal with a world that is changing very rapidly. Mark Strong is awesome as Merlin as a senior Kingsman officer who is also the candidates’ trainer as a man that had seen so much as he is also the film’s conscious of sorts.
Samuel L. Jackson is phenomenal as Richmond Valentine as this megalomaniacal man of wealth who believes he has the answers for all of the problems of the world while doing it in a very evil way where Jackson brings charm but also some humor in his lisps and aversion to blood and violence. Colin Firth is remarkable as Galahad/Harry Hart as a Kingsman agent who personifies all of the things to be a spy that is full of control and style while also being the one person who can show Eggsy what he can be as it’s one of Firth’s finest performances. Finally there’s Taron Egerton in a real breakthrough as Eggsy as young man with a chip on his shoulder as someone that is lost and destined for trouble as he tries to find ways to better himself as well as bring meaning where Egerton manages to have some charm and dramatic weight to his role.
Kingsman: The Secret Service is a sensational film from Matthew Vaughn. Featuring a great cast and an inventive premise that manages to be fun and engaging, the film is truly not just a play on spy movies but also showcases the idea of what a gentleman can be when he’s facing the world in danger. In the end, Kingsman: The Secret Service is a rapturous film from Matthew Vaughn.
Matthew Vaughn Films: (Layer Cake) - (Stardust) - Kick-Ass - X-Men: First Class
© thevoid99 2015
Directed by J.J. Abrams and screenplay by Abrams, Michael Arndt, and Lawrence Kasdan from characters written by George Lucas, The Force Awakens (Star Wars: Episode VII) is the story of a conflict between two factions that re-emerges to disrupt order in the galaxy as three people find themselves in the middle of this conflict. Set thirty years after the events in Return of the Jedi, the film focuses on new characters who encounter those from the past as they deal with this conflict in a new war. Starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Gwendoline Christie, Max von Sydow, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford. The Force Awakens is a sensational and riveting film from J.J. Abrams.
Set 30 years after the events that saw the fall of the Galactic Empire and the resurrection of the Galactic Republic, the film revolves around a new conflict between a new order known as the First Order and a group opposing the First Order in the Resistance led by General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher). Realizing that the First Order is trying to find Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) who had disappeared many years ago, General Organa asks Resistance pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) to find a map that could lead to Skywalker before the First Order finds and eliminates him. While it is a film that is derivative of plot elements that relates to Episode IV, it does however manage to find ways to create new storylines and characters to be engaging as it bears elements that made those first three films so special.
The film’s screenplay by J.J. Abrams, Michael Arndt, and Lawrence Kasdan doesn’t just introduce these new characters into the story and how they would interact with characters from the past. It also has an air of innocence that was definitely missing from the prequels as it relates to a character named Rey (Daisy Ridley) as she is this young scavenger from a desert planet called Jakku as she steals and sells scraps from war remnants to survive. Yet, she is in the planets as she awaits for people to comeback until she meets this droid named BB-8 where her adventure begins that includes an encounter with a Stormtrooper named Finn (John Boyega) who defects from the First Order after seeing what they have done. Finn is an interesting character as he is someone that was born and raised to be part of the First Order but when he sees first-hand in what they do. He starts to question what they do where he would later help Poe escape from the clutches of the First Order as well as go into his own journey.
Rey, Poe, and Finn aren’t just this new trio of protagonists who all have something to offer as they’re allowed to be characters audiences can root for. While Poe may not have as much development as Rey or Finn, he is someone that is willing to do the right thing and stand up to the First Order no matter what they can do to him. Then there’s the antagonists in the members of the First Order such as Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) as he is someone that is strong with the Force as well as someone that is kind of an emotional time bomb whenever things don’t go his way. While he would also have to contend with First Order leader General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) over what should be done, Ren is someone that is also very complex as it relates to his own background and why he’s obsessed with finding Skywalker. By the time Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) come into the story, they would not only help Finn and Rey but also reveal the many myths about the Jedi, the Sith, and the Force which would allow Solo to reunite with Leia and find Luke. It’s not just in the characterizations and storylines that help make the story successful but also the dialogue where it does reveal aspects to the story but also has some funny moments.
Abrams’ direction is definitely grand not just in the way the galaxy is presented but also in establishing a world of peace and prosperity is about to be undone by this new galactic world order. Just after the opening crawl, the film opens with this large Star Destroyer covering a planet as it plays into how much the galaxy has changed where things are about to become very chaotic. With the planet of Jakku shot in Abu Dhabi as well as some locations that are shot in Ireland and parts of Iceland, Abrams does give the film a more worldly feel while also harkening back to visual ideas and such that isn’t just a homage to the original trilogy. It’s also to play into moments that made that original trilogy so special where Abrams doesn’t just bring back that air of innocence but also keeping things simple in its story while not doing too much to make everything bigger than it already is. Abrams usage of the 2:35:1 aspect ratio allowed him to capture every moment with the wide shots with such beauty as well as in the medium shots that establishes some of the moments between the characters.
Abrams also create these moments in the action where it does have this energy and element of suspense that is needed such as Finn and Rey trying to run from the TIE Fighters. Even the battles in the air are thrilling where Abrams knows what is happening and what needs to be shown while he also finds a way to have the story break away from the action for drama and humor. Even in the way he uses close-ups and camera angles to help play into the drama and suspense. Abrams’ usage of practical visual and special effects doesn’t just add to a sense of realism to the look of the film but also add something that isn’t overwhelmed by computerized-digital effects that often takes some of the visual elements away from the story. The film’s climax may bear similarities to other climaxes from past films but the stakes are definitely high as it play into what is happening as well as the kind of weapon the Resistance has to take down in this mega-version of the Death Star that is called the Starbase Killer. Overall, Abrams creates an exhilarating and majestic film about a group of people trying to save the galaxy from a new world order.
Cinematographer Dan Mindel does brilliant work with the film‘s cinematography from the sunny look of the planet of Jakku to the usage of green and naturalistic colors for the planet of Takodana as well as some of the interior lights for the scenes inside the Star Destroyer and the Starbase Killer. Editors Mary Jo Markey and Maryann Brandon do amazing work with the editing with its usage of jump-cuts and stylish transition wipes to not go overboard as well as allowing shots and scenes to play out longer rather than delve into conventional fast-cutting techniques. Production designers Rick Carter and Darren Gilford, with set decorator Lee Sandales and supervising art director Neil Lamont, do incredible work with the set designs from the look of the Resistance base as well as many of the interiors in the Star Destroyers and Starbase Killer as well as the junkyard at Jakku.
Costume designer Michael Kaplan does excellent work with the costumes from the newer look of the Stormtrooper outfits as well as the look of the Resistance and the jacket that Finn wears that belonged to Poe. Hair designer Lisa Tomblin and makeup artist Amy Byrne do fantastic work with the look of some of the characters including Leia‘s hair and some of the minor characters including some pirates that have issues with Solo. Special effects supervisor Chris Corbould and creatures conceptual designer Neal Scanlan do phenomenal work with the practical effects from the look of the X-Wing and TIE Fighters as well as some of the starships and creatures in the planets that look and feel real which adds to how worldly the galaxy is. Visual effects supervisors Roger Guyett and Michael Mulholland do splendid work with the visual effects from the look of some of the characters as well as some of the exteriors in space as well as the look of the Starbase Killer in its exterior setting.
Sound designers David Acord and Ben Burtt, with sound editors Gary Rydstrom and Matthew Wood, do superb work with the sound from the sound effects of the droids including BB-8 and R2-D2 as well as the sound work of the some of the starships and other moments that play into the sound. The film’s music by John Williams is remarkable for its bombastic orchestral score that features themes from past films but also some newer themes from some very low-key yet somber pieces as well as some heavy moments as it is one of Williams’ finest work.
The casting by Nina Gold, April Webster, and Alyssa Weisberg is marvelous for the people that are assembled for the film as it features small appearances from Billie Lourd as Resistance officer Lt. Connix, Tim Rose and the voice of Erik Bauersfeld as Admiral Ackbar, Mike Quinn and the voice of Kipsang Roitch as Resistance fighter Nien Nunb, Ken Leung as Resistance Admiral Statura, Simon Pegg as Jakku junkyard dealer Unkar Plutt, Greg Gunberg and Jessica Henwick as a couple of X-wing pilots, Thomas Brodie-Sangster as First Order Petty Officer Thanisson, Dave Chapman and Brian Herring as the puppeteers for BB-8 with vocal work from Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz, and Kenny Baker as the voice work of the droid R2-D2. Other notable small roles include Anthony Daniels as the protocol droid C-3P0, a trio of pirates played Yayan Ruhian, Iko Uwais, and Cecep Arif, Gwendoline Christie as the Stormtroopers leader/First Order officer Captain Phasma, and Max von Sydow in a brief yet superb performance as Lor San Tekka as a village elder who would give Poe a portion of a map that carries information into where Skywalker is.
Peter Mayhew is terrific as Chewbacca as Han Solo’s first-mate and friend who aids him in dealing with pirates and members of the First Order as additional credit goes to Joonas Suatamo who appears as Chewbacca for some of the film’s action scenes. Andy Serkis is excellent as the mysterious First Order leader Supreme Leader Snoke as this figure who is Ren’s master as he is hoping to end the Resistance and bring order to the galaxy. Domhnall Gleeson is fantastic as General Hux as a First Order leader who watches over the Starbase Killer as he often contends with Ren for power as well as provide a more ruthless idea of what the First Order should be. Lupita Nyong’o is brilliant as the pirate Maz Kanata as this offbeat yet wise alien who is an old friend of Solo and Chewbacca who can look through people as she provides some key moments for both Rey and Finn.
Mark Hamill is wonderful as Luke Skywalker where despite the fact that Hamill doesn’t appear in the film, he maintains a presence that is of great importance as the legendary Jedi knight that looms over the conflict in the galaxy. Carrie Fisher is amazing as General Leia Organa as the leader of the Resistance who is trying to deal with the First Order as she also copes with her brother’s disappearance and the hope to find good in the galaxy. Harrison Ford is great as Han Solo as the legendary smuggler who finds himself back in the conflict as he too carries a burden of what had been lost where he becomes this reluctant figure of wisdom for both Finn and Rey. Adam Driver is phenomenal as Kylo Ren as this commander of the First Order who displays the power of the Force as someone who is eager to fulfill the legacy of Darth Vader but is also unpredictable and dangerous as it plays into who he really is under the mask that he wears.
Oscar Isaac is incredible as Poe Dameron as Resistance fighter who is considered the best pilot in the galaxy as he is tasked to do a mission for General Organa in finding out where Luke Skywalker is as he also deals with the severity of the First Order. John Boyega is tremendous as Finn as a Stormtrooper who defects to the Resistance as he tries to find redemption and meaning to his life as he helps Rey and take down the First Order despite being targeted as a traitor. Finally, there’s Daisy Ridley in an astonishing performance as Rey as this young scavenger who finds herself in an adventure that has her doing so much from fixing starships to fighting Stormtroopers as she is also someone that is very vulnerable as it relates to being alone for much of her life as Ridley is the film’s real discovery.
The Force Awakens is a magnificent film from J.J. Abrams. Featuring a great cast of people from past films as well as a collection of newcomers along with great technical work and a thrilling score. The film isn’t just a great mixture of nostalgia and homage to the original trilogy but also a film that manages to bring in a lot of adventure and heart that the series that hadn’t been seen in years. Notably as it’s the kind of film that manages to be escapist cinema but also cinema that is very intelligent and full of warmth and innocence that is often lacking in today’s high-octane mainstream cinema. In the end, The Force Awakens is an outstanding film from J.J. Abrams.
Star Wars Films: Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back - Return of the Jedi - The Phantom Menace - Attack of the Clones - Revenge of the Sith - The Last Jedi - The Rise of Skywalker
Related: The Star Wars Holiday Special - Caravan of Courage - The Battle for Endor - The Clone Wars - Fanboys - The People vs. George Lucas
Star Wars Anthology Films: Rogue One - Solo: A Star Wars Story - (Untitled Star Wars Anthology Film)
George Lucas Films: THX 1138 - (American Graffiti)
J.J. Abrams Films: (Mission: Impossible III) - (Star Trek (2009 film)) - Super 8 - (Star Trek: Into Darkness)
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